FARGO, N.D. — In a thrilling showdown on Saturday, Cam Miller showcased his outstanding skills by tossing three touchdown passes and adding another rushing touchdown, leading the second-seeded North Dakota State Bison to a 51-31 come-from-behind victory over 15th-seeded Abilene Christian in the second round of the FCS playoffs. With this win, the Bison, now boasting an impressive 11-2 record, extended their playoff appearances to 15 consecutive seasons and are currently holders of nine FCS championships. They are set to host the seventh-seeded Mercer Bears in the upcoming quarterfinals.
Early in the game, Abilene Christian (9-5) seized control by jumping out to a 17-3 lead, highlighted by a 13-yard touchdown pass from Maverick McIvor to J.J. Henry, along with a remarkable 90-yard touchdown run by Sam Hicks, and a 29-yard field goal from Ritse Vaes in the second quarter. However, the tide turned in favor of the Bison when Jackson Williams ignited their comeback with a sensational 100-yard kickoff return, initiating a scoring frenzy that resulted in 31 consecutive points, including 17 points scored in the second quarter that gave North Dakota State a 20-17 lead at halftime.
The Wildcats attempted to claw back into the game when Nehemiah Martinez’s 53-yard return set the stage for Hicks’ 3-yard touchdown run, narrowing the gap to 34-24. Nevertheless, the Bison answered back decisively on their next possession, with Miller connecting with Bryce Lance on a 36-yard touchdown pass to close out a dominant 21-point third quarter.
Even as ACU sought to remain competitive with a 2-yard touchdown run by Rovaughn Banks Jr. in early fourth-quarter action, North Dakota State quickly countered. Marcus Gulley intercepted a pass and returned it 37 yards to the ACU 9, leading to a field goal by Crosa. Logan Kopp then bolstered the Bison’s lead with a 31-yard pick-six, solidifying their advantage.
In total, Miller completed 20 of his 29 passes for a commendable 274 yards. Meanwhile, McIvor finished the game with 153 passing yards, one touchdown, along with two interceptions, while Hicks shone on the ground with 153 rushing yards on just 16 carries. This playoff appearance marks a significant milestone for Abilene Christian, the United Athletic Conference champions, as it is their first trip to the FCS playoffs since joining the classification in 2013, following their victory over Northern Arizona in the opening round.
Notably, kicker Crosa achieved a remarkable feat by converting his 262nd career PAT, surpassing the previous FCS record set by NDSU’s Cam Pederson (2015-2018).
